Good morning!
The University of Minnesota Center for Writing is looking for our next Director!
(This position is not to be confused with the posting for the Director of Writing Across the Curriculum at the University of Minnesota, though both positions are housed in the Center for Writing.)
Priority deadline is Monday, Feb. 5. For more information and application instructions, please visit the University of Minnesota’s job site and search for job ID #359090.
About the Job
The Department of Writing Studies in the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Minnesota invites applications for the Director of the Center for Writing. This is a full-time, 9-month non-tenure faculty position with summer augmentation and an anticipated start date of June 19, 2024. The Director appointment is a 12-month administrative appointment at the rank of director (with faculty rank). The position will report primarily to the Chair of the Department of Writing Studies.
We seek an outstanding candidate to lead the University of Minnesota’s Center for Writing, an internationally recognized, complex, multi-program educational and research center that serves students, faculty and staff across the University, as well as preK-college educators statewide. The University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Writing Studies has a strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we are interested in candidates who can support and expand this commitment. This position is responsible for unit vision and goals, long-term planning, program development, assessment, and procurement and stewardship of resources to fulfill the Center’s mission of supporting students and educators who practice, teach with, and research writing. The Director leads and motivates a diverse staff of more than 50 people, including education professionals, a unit administrator, and graduate and undergraduate writing consultants. This position includes research in writing centers and the scholarship of teaching and learning, as well as teaching, which may include a course in the theory and practice of writing consultancy (WRIT 3751W) and other departmental courses. We seek a colleague who is interested in representing the center, strengthening its research vision, and enhancing partnerships with the Department of Writing Studies. In addition, this position establishes partnerships with and represents the Center to multiple stakeholders within and outside the University.
The Director of the Center for Writing will hold an administrative appointment as the director and a non-tenured faculty position in the Writing Studies academic unit in the College of Liberal Arts. The appointee will be expected to contribute 50% effort toward the scholarly and academic responsibilities with the Department of Writing Studies in the form of teaching and/or research. This position also carries year-round administrative responsibilities as Director of the Center for Writing. The initial appointment is for three years followed by annual reappointments through year six when a long-term contract will be considered. Offering salary will start at $80K for this position. The final offering amount will be determined by the education and experience being brought into this position.
Job Responsibilities
- Serve as chief administrative office of the center
- Supervise a team of 7 members including Student Writing Support (SWS) Co-Directors, Minnesota Writing Project Director, Multilingual Learner Specialists, and a Center administrator
- Represent the Center for Writing to the Department of Writing Studies, senior University leadership and stakeholders within and outside the University
- Monitor, approve, and forecast Center budget
- Oversee and support the University’s sponsorship of the local site of the National Writing Project and relevant grants
- Engage in teaching in the Writing Studies Department, 1-2 courses per year
- Engage in research and scholarship of teaching and learning as well as writing centers and/or writing program administration
- Increase the visibility of the Center’s contributions to teaching, research and public engagement through regular participation in conferences and organizations devoted to writing centers, writing programs, and writing instruction
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
- PhD in Writing Studies, Composition, Rhetoric, Technical & Professional Communication, Literacy Education, English, or other relevant field, in hand by the start date
- Experience with Writing Center theory, practice, and administration
- A record of publication and presentation focused on writing centers, writing/teaching, or writing program administration
- Experience with teaching writing and rhetoric courses, including experience working successfully in classrooms of students with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
- Experience planning, preparing, and monitoring budgets and/or grant funds
- Demonstrated commitment to improving equity, inclusion, and access
- Outstanding communication, organizational, and collaboration skills
- Excellent time management, project management, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience supervising, mentoring, and providing professional development for graduate students, part-time faculty, and professional staff
- Experience with public engagement and/or partnering in community-based settings
- Experience with academic technologies related to writing instruction, language learner support, and writing across the disciplines
- Experience with the collection, analysis, and presentation of qualitative and quantitative data for various stakeholders
How To Apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.
Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.
Priority will be given to completed applications received by February 5, 2024 but applications will be reviewed until the position is filled. To be considered complete, an application must include the following: cover letter, CV, diversity statement, administrative philosophy statement, and names and contact information of three references, which may be attached with your application by accessing your “My Activities” page and uploading documents there. The search committee may request additional materials at a later date. Questions about the posting may be sent via email to
Department Administrator Shannon Klug
Center for Writing
University of Minnesota
216 Pillsbury Dr SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455
klugx004
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ or call (612) 624-UOHR (8647).
Jasmine Kar Tang, Ph.D. | she/her/hers
Co-Director, Center for Writing and Minnesota Writing Project
Affiliate Graduate Faculty, Literacy & Rhetorical Studies
University of Minnesota Department of Writing Studies
jkt | 612.625.1541